Is ACC Physio Free? Costs, No GP Referral and How to Claim

If you have just hurt yourself and are searching for "free ACC physio near me", here is the short answer. ACC physio in New Zealand is subsidised, not automatically free: ACC pays part of each appointment and you pay the rest. You do not need a GP referral, and your physiotherapist lodges the ACC claim for you at your first visit.

At AZ Physiotherapy Limited in East Auckland, an ACC appointment costs $35 for a 45-minute first assessment and $30 for a 30-minute follow-up. This guide explains what ACC pays, why some clinics advertise free ACC physio, what counts as an ACC injury, and exactly how to claim.

Is ACC physio free?

Usually not completely. ACC says it pays part of your treatment costs and that you will need to pay the rest, and it recommends asking your provider how much you will pay before treatment starts. The part you pay is often called a surcharge, co-payment or part-charge.

Here is what that looks like at AZ Physiotherapy:

Prices are current as at October 2026. Check our fees page for the latest.

Why do some clinics advertise free ACC physio?

Some clinics charge no surcharge and rely on the ACC payment alone. That can be a good option if cost is the deciding factor. When you compare clinics, look at more than the price:

• Appointment length. A 15 to 20 minute appointment is very different from 30 to 45 minutes.
• One-on-one time. Ask whether your physio sees only you for the whole appointment.
• Who you see. Ask whether you will see the same physiotherapist each visit.
• What is included. Ask whether your exercise programme and follow-up plan are part of the fee.

We keep our surcharge low and our appointments long, so you get a full assessment and a clear plan from the first visit.

Do I need a GP referral for ACC physio?

No. For most injuries you can book directly with an ACC-registered physiotherapist without seeing your GP first. Your physiotherapist can assess the injury, give you a diagnosis and lodge the ACC claim.

Going straight to a physio means you can start treatment sooner, which matters when you are in pain or struggling to move. If your injury needs a scan, a specialist opinion or medical care, we will tell you and help arrange the next step.

How to claim ACC for physio: step by step

1. Book directly with us. Book online or get in touch. No referral and no claim number are needed.
2. Tell us what happened. We need to know how, when and where the injury occurred, and which part of your body was hurt.
3. We assess the injury and lodge the claim. If the injury was caused by an accident, we complete the ACC claim for you during the appointment.
4. Treatment starts the same day. You do not need to wait for ACC's decision to begin.
5. ACC confirms cover. ACC lets you know by text, and may also send a letter, usually within a week.

ACC accepts claims up to 12 months after an injury, and may still consider later claims if there is a good reason for the delay. If ACC does not accept a claim, private rates apply, and we will talk through your options with you before continuing.

Do I need an ACC claim number before seeing a physio?

No. If this is a new injury, we lodge the claim and ACC issues the number. If you already have a claim from your GP, an urgent care clinic or another physio, bring the claim number and we can carry on your treatment under it.

What counts as an ACC injury?

ACC is a no-fault scheme. It covers everyone in New Zealand, including visitors, who is injured in an accident, no matter what you were doing or whose fault it was.

If you are not sure which side your injury falls on, we can assess it and tell you whether ACC is likely to cover it. If it is not an ACC injury, you can still see us privately, and you still do not need a referral.

What happens at your first ACC physiotherapy appointment?

Your first visit is a 45-minute assessment. We talk through your injury and then examine it. Your physiotherapist will look at:

• How the injury happened
• Where your symptoms are and what makes them better or worse
• Your movement, strength and mobility
• The everyday activities the injury is affecting
• What your work, sport or exercise demands of you
• Your goals for recovery

You will leave with a diagnosis, a treatment plan and exercises to start at home. Treatment may include hands-on physiotherapy, therapeutic exercise, strengthening and mobility work, soft-tissue techniques, dry needling where clinically appropriate, taping, and advice on returning to work or sport.

What to bring

• Details of how and when the injury happened
• Your ACC claim number, if you already have one
• Any scan results or letters from a GP or specialist
• Comfortable clothing you can move in

ACC physio for sports and running injuries

You do not have to be an athlete to use ACC. If you were injured while running, training at the gym, playing football or netball, dancing or doing any other activity, you may be covered, depending on how the injury happened.

Common examples include ankle sprains, calf and hamstring strains, knee ligament injuries and shoulder injuries. The key question for ACC is whether there was a specific incident, such as a twist, a fall or a sudden pull. Pain that built up slowly from training load, like many cases of knee pain when running, is usually treated privately.

See how we approach sports rehabilitation.

ACC physio for workplace injuries

A work injury can affect both your health and your income. Physiotherapy helps restore movement and strength and supports a safe, graded return to your normal duties. Rehabilitation may include exercise therapy, manual therapy, work-specific exercises, activity modification and return-to-work planning.

Two things are worth knowing about work injuries:

• ACC can cover conditions that develop gradually when your work tasks or environment caused them, such as tendon problems from repetitive or heavy work.
• If your injury stops you working, ACC may pay weekly compensation of up to 80% of your income. This is not automatic. You apply through MyACC or by calling ACC.

If your workstation is part of the problem, we also offer worksite assessments.

How many ACC physio sessions will I get?

ACC funds a number of treatments for each accepted injury. Many straightforward injuries are treated within that allowance. If you need more, your physiotherapist applies to ACC for further treatment and explains the clinical reasons, so you do not have to handle the paperwork.

ACC physio near you in East Auckland

AZ Physiotherapy Limited is an ACC-registered provider with our clinic at 7/45 Dale Crescent, Pakuranga. We see people from Pakuranga, Howick, Highland Park, Botany, East Tāmaki, Dannemora, Ormiston and the surrounding suburbs.

Your physiotherapist, Abdullah Abdullah, is a New Zealand-registered musculoskeletal physiotherapist with experience across acute injuries, ACC rehabilitation, sports injuries and post-surgical recovery.

See ACC physio in East Auckland for what happens at your first appointment, read more about ACC physiotherapy at AZ, check our fees, or contact us with a question. When you are ready, book online and we will take care of the ACC side for you.

Sources

• ACC: What to do if you're injured
• ACC: Treatment we can help pay for
• ACC: Injuries we cover and Injuries we don't cover